Road working apparatus



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 16, 1950 INVENTOR GEORGE E. ROSS ATTORNEYS Oct. 20, 1953 G. E. Ross ROAD WORKING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 16, 1950 INVENTOR. GEORGE E. ROSS FIG.2'

ATTORNEYS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 16, 1950 mdE 'INVENTOR. GEORGE E. ROSS '(DMAQM ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 20, 1953 RQSS 2,655,743

ROAD WORKING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 16, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 6

\ INVENTOR.

GEORGE E. ROSS (U%& (0%

ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE ROAD WORKING APPARATUS George E. Ross, Nevada, Ohio, assignor to W. A.

Riddell Corporation, Bucyrus, Ohio, at corporation of Ohio 11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a power-driven road scraper, and, more particularly, to a, road scraper having a mold board or blade and associated frame which can be hydraulically tilted to grade banks, both right and left from the horizontal, up to and including ninety degrees of the horizontal.

Heretofore, it has been proposed to provide in a road scraper a mold board which could be tilted either to the right or left by hydraulic or mechanical means to scrape banks or inclines. Such machines, however, as a rule have been complicated and expensive or have not been sufficiently flexible to permit adjustment through the full range from ninety degrees either side of the horizontal, or have required laborious adjustment of linkages and pivot points to extend the operation of the mold board beyond the limited ranges provided by the operators controls.

It is the general object of the invention to avoid and overcome the foregoing and other difficulties of and objections to prior art practices by the provision of a durable and long-lived road scraper which is comparatively inexpensive and simple in its construction and operation, and yet extremely flexible in its range of cutting angles,

Another object of the invention is the provision of a road scraper having a mold board or blade which can be extended to grade banks up to and including ninety degrees either to the right or left from the horizontal.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a combined hydraulic and mechanical linkage controlling the cutting angle of the mold board which can adjust the mold board and its associated carriage frame through the full range and which can be completely controlled in its operation from controls located at the operators station.

The aforesaid objects of the invention, and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds, are achieved by providing in a road grader, a main frame supported on wheels, a carriage pivotally secured to the main frame at one point, a mold board carried by the carriage, means for tilting the carriage through 180 degrees together with the associated mold board including a bracket or rocker arm pivotally attached near its center to the fain frame, latching means releasably securing the rocker arm in three angular positions relative to the frame, hydraulic actuators adjustably securing the outer ends of the rocker arm to the carriage, a lever arm pivotally secured at one end to the rocker arm at a point intermediate the rocker arm center and one end thereof, latching means releasably securing the lever 'arm in three positions relative to the rocker arm, and an hydraulic actuator adjustably securing the carriage to the free end of the lever arm.

For a, better understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a road scraper showing the general embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view showing in detail the supporting and adjusting mechanism associated with the mold board in its horizontal grading position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the mold board in its right-hand vertical grading position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the mold board in its extreme left-hand vertical grading position;

Fig. 5 is a'schematic diagram of the hydraulic and electrical control system of the road grader; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top elevational view of the grader showing the latch controls.

With specific reference to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the numeral l0 indicates generally a road grader having a main frame l2, a pair of front wheels 14, and rear wheels [6 and H3. The road grader derives its power from a prime mover, indicated generally at '20, which drives the traction wheels l6 and I8, and also the hydraulic pump 22 for operating the various hydraulic actuators.

A sub-frame or carriage 24, to which the mold board supporting frame 26 is rotatably secured, is supported at its forward end by a universal coupling 28 to the main frame I2. Tiltably supported from the mold board supporting frame 26 is the blade or mold board 30. To effect raising and lowering of the mold board 30, a pair of hydraulic actuators 32 and 34, pivotally secured to the main frame 12 through a bracket or rocker arm 36, are attached to the carriage 24 at pivot points 38 and 40.

A rocker arm journal 42 rotatably supports rocker arms 36 of the main frame [2. The rocker arm 35 is releasably secured in a plurality of angular positions, preferably three in number, by means of a spring loaded latching assembly 44 secured to the rocker arm 36. A projecting flange 4'5 integrally formed with the rocker arm journal 42 has three notches 48 equally spaced along the periphery thereof which are engaged by the latch mechanism 44 to lock the rocker arm 38 in any one of three desired positions. The latch can be released by the operator by means of afoot pedal 59 which isoperatively connected to thelatch 44 by means .of .a flexible cable 52, and is of conventional design including a bolt (not shown) which is spring urged H into engagement with the notches 48.

To effect crosswise movement of the carriage 24 relative to the grader frame, a cross shift hydraulic actuator is provided which is pivotally secured at one end 58 to the carriage 2G. The other end of the cross-shift hydraulic actuator Ed is secured by a universal coupling at 58 to a cross arm or crank 60. The cross-shift arm 69 is in turn pivotally supported at E2 to the rocker arm 36 intermediate the rocker arm journal and one end thereof. The'cross-shift armfifi is releasably engaged by a latching means 54 which engages notches 553 in rocker arm 35 to prevent relative motion therewith, Latch means is similar .to latch as and is released by means of foot lever 68 and associated flexible control cable 'iil forallowing cross-shift arm Bil to engage in any one of three positions provided.

Turning now to the hydraulic control system shownschematically in Fig. 5, the righthand lift 32, the cross-shift 54, and lefthand lift 3 are controlled by the operator by means of control arms 12, M, and '55, respectively. These control levers are mechanically connected to and actuate, as indicated by thedash lines, the hydraulic valves 18, 89, and 82. Each of these valves is hydraulically connected to its respective actua tor. Fluid is pumped into the hydrauliovalves by means of the pump 22 driven by the prime mover from a fiuidreservoir 83. The hydraulic valves 1.8, 88, and 82 .have atwo-way action whereby'fluids pumped'through the valves can be diverted .to either end of the hydraulic actuators, depending on which way the manual operating levers have moved. Associated Withthe fluid system of each actuator is a relief by-pass valve 84 which automatically diverts the flow of fluid from the hydraulic actuator when the pres sure becomes excessive due to excessive mechanical loads or the like. 7

Asafety feature designed to prevent'binding of. the hydraulic lift actuators32 and 34 as they rotate on their pivoted mountings at the end of therocker arm 36, takes the form of an electrically actuated solenoid valve 85 which opens a fluid icy-pass 8?, thereby diverting, the fluid from the pump 22 past the valves and directly back to the reservoir 83 whenever either hydrau lic lift actuator becomes situated at a predetermined angle relative to the rocker arm 36. This is efiected by means of a pair of outrigger switches .83 and 89 mounted at opposite ends of the rocker arm and in association with the hydraulic actuators 32 and 34. The switches are so designed that as the hydraulic actuators rotate on their pivots, after a certain predetermined angle is reached relative to'the rocker arm 35, the outrigger switches are closed, thereby completing an electrical circuit through the solenoid valve 85 to prevent further movement of any of the hydraulic actuators. In series with the outrigger switches 88 are microswitches 93 which are closed by movement of the related manual control lever arm to connect the appropriate outrigger contacts into the electrical circuit.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the mold board 39 is shown positioned for normal horizontal road grading, with the rocker arm 36 and cross-shift arm 65 secured in their intermediate positions. An operator can shift the mold board from this position to that for grading a ninety-degree bank to the right-of the motor grader as shown in 3, from the 'operators compartment in the following manner:

First, by means of manual control levers E2 and "6, the mold board is lowered until it comes to rest on the ground. This relieves any strain andfriction on the latching members it and 64. Next, the cross-shift arm latch $1; is released by meansof foot pedal 53. Then, by means of crossshift actuator 56, cross-shift arm Bil is moved till the cross-shift'latch ti engages the bottom notch. The rocker arm latch MS is subsequently released by means of foot pedal 58 and the rocker arm 38 rotated by means of lift actuators 32 and 34 until the latch id engages in the top notch of the journal flange d6. Then, by raising the righthand end of the mold board by means of hydraulic actuator 3-2 and lowering the left end by means of the hydraulic actuator 33 and appropriately adjusting the cross-shift actuator 5d, the moldboard can be positioned anywhere within the two positions of horizontal and ninety degrees to theright. Conversely, by moving the cross-shift arm 66 to the top notch and the rocker armto the position of the lowest notch, the mold board can be adjusted between the two positions of horizontal and ninety degrees to the left.

From the above description, it will berecognized that the objects of the invention have been achieved by providing a road. scraper having a mold'board which can be extended to grade banks up to and including ninety degrees on either side of "the grader. Furthermoreythis shift can be effected by the operator .by means of the two latch controls, using just the three hydraulic controls usually employed inthe operation :of a road scraper, namely, a right and left handlift control. and a cross-shift control.

Whilein accordance with the patent statutes, one best known embodiment of the. invention has been described herein, it is to be particularlyunderstoodthat the scope of the invention is not limited thereto or thereby, loutis defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a road grader having'a mainiramesupported on wheels, a carriage pivotally secured to the frame and supporting a moldboard thereon, means for moving the carriage laterally and upwardly including a rocker arm journaled adjacent its mid-point to the main frame andhaving ends projecting laterally of the main frame, amanually operated-latch operatively associated with the rocker arm releasably securing said rocker arm in anyone of three angular positions relative to the main frame, a pair-of hydraulic actuators linking the ends of the rocker arm to the carriage whereby the carriaeg is lifted to either side of the grader, a cross-shift hydraulic actuator secured at one end to the carriage, a cross-shift arm pivotally secured at one end to the rocker arm intermediate the mid-point and one end of the rockerarm, said-cross-shift arm being pivotally secured at its otherend to the cross-shift actuator, and a manually operated latch operativelyassociated with the cross-shift arm and releasably securing thecross-shiftarm in any one Of three positions. relative to the rocker arm.

2. In a road grader having a main frame supported on wheels, a carriage pivotally secured to the frame and supporting a mold board thereon, means for moving the carriage laterally and upwardly including a rocker arm journaled adjacent its mid-point to the main frame and having ends projecting laterally of the main frame, a manually operated latch operatively associated with the rocker arm releasably securing said rocker arm in a plurality of angular positions relative to the main frame, a pair of hydraulic actuators linking the ends of the rocker arm to the carriage whereby the carriage is lifted to either side of the grader, a cross-shift hydraulic actuator secured at one end to the carriage, a cross-shift arm pivotally secured at one end to the rocker arm intermediate the mid-point and one end of the rocker arm, said cross-shift arm being pivotally secured at its other end to the crossshift actuator, and a manually operated latch operatively associated with the cross-shift arm and releasably securing the cross-shift arm in any one of three positions relative to the rocker arm.

3. In a road grader having a main frame supported on wheels, a carriage pivotally secured to the frame and supporting a mold board thereon, means for moving the carriage laterally and upwardly including a rocker arm journaled adjacent its mid-point to the main frame and having ends projecting laterally of the main frame, a manually operated latch operatively associated with the rocker arm releasably securing said rocker arm in a plurality of angular positions relative to the main frame, means linking the ends of the rocker arm with the carriage for raising and lowering the carriage, a crcss-shift arm pivotally secured at one end of the rocker arm, means linking the cross-shift arm and the carriage for shifting the carriage laterally of the grader frame, and a manually operated latch operatively associated with the cross-shift arm and releasably securing the cross-shift arm in any one of three positions relative to the rocker arm. 1

l. In a road grader having a main frame supported on wheels, a carriage pivotally secured to the frame and supporting a mold board thereon, means for moving the carriage laterally and upwardly including a rocker arm journaled adjacent its mid-point to the main frame and having ends projecting laterally of the main frame, means operatively associated with the rocker arm for releasably securing said rocker arm in a plurality of angular positions relative to the main frame, a pair of hydraulic actuators linking the ends of the rocker arm to the carriage whereby the carriage is lifted to either side of the grader, a cross-shift hydraulic actuator secured at one end to the carriage, a cross-shift arm pivotally secured at one end to the rocker arm intermediate the mid-point and one end of the rocker arm, said cross-shift arm being pivotally secured at its other end to the cross-shift actuator, and means operatively associated with the cross-shift arm for releasably securing the cross-shift arm in any one of a plurality of positions relative to the rocker arm.

5. In a road grade, a main longitudinal frame, a carriage below the main frame, a universal coupling pivotally securing the carriage to the main frame at one point, a blade supported on the carriage, linkage for movably supporting the carriage from the frame including a rocker arm extending laterally of the main frame and pivotally secured on substantially a horizontal axis at substantially its mid-point to the frame, hydraulic lift actuators linking the ends of the rocker arm to laterally spaced pivots on the carriage for relative movement therebetween, a cross-shift arm pivotally secured at one end to the rocker arm at a point intermediate one end of the rocker arm and its pivot, an hydraulic cross-shift actuator linking the other end of the cross-shift arm to the carriage for relative lateral movement therebetween, a remotely operated latch operatively associated with the rocker arm adapted to releasably secure the rocker arm in a plurality of angular positions relative to the frame, and a remotely operated latch operatively associated with the cross-shift arm adapted to releasably secure the cross-shift arm in a plurality of angular positions relative to the rocker arm.

6. An earth working machine or the like comprising a main longitudinal frame, a carriage below the main frame, a universal coupling pivotally securing the carriage to the main frame at one point, a working tool supported on the carriage, linkage for movably supporting the carriage from the frame including a rocker arm ex tending laterally of the main frame and pivotally secured substantially at its mid-point to the frame, hydraulic lift actuators linking the ends of the rocker arm to laterally spaced pivots on the carriage for relative movement therebetween, a cross-shift arm pivotally secured at one end to the rocker arm at a point intermediate one end of the rocker arm and its pivot, an hydraulic cross-shift actuator linking the other end of the cross-shift arm to the carriage for relative lateral movement therebetween, a remotely operated latch operatively associated with the rocker arm adapted to releasably secure the rocker arm in a plurality of angular positions relative to the frame, and a remotely operated latch operatively associated with the cross-shift arm adapted to releasably secure the cross-shift arm in a plurality of angular positions relative to the rocker arm.

'7. An earth working machine or the like comprising a main longitudinal frame, a carriage below the main frame, a universal coupling pivotally securing the carriage to the main frame at one point, a working tool supported on the carriage, linkage for movably supporting the carriage from the frame including a rocker arm extending laterally of the main frame and pivotally secured at substantially its mid-paint to the frame, actuators linking the ends of the rocker arm to laterally spaced pivots on the carriage for relative movement therebetween, a cross-shift arm pivotally secured at one end to the rocker arm at a point intermediate one end of the rocker arm and its pivot, a cross-shift actuator linking the other end of the cross-shift arm to the car riage for relative lateral movement therebetween, a remotely operated latch operatively associated with the rocker arm adapted to releasably secure the rocker arm in a plurality of angular positions relative to the frame, and a remotely operated latch operatively associated with the cross-shift arm adapted to releasably secure the cross-shift arm in a plurality of angular positions relative to the rocker arm.

8. An earth working machine or the like comprising a main longitudinal frame, a carriage below the main frame, a universal coupling pivotally securing the carriage to the main frame at one point, a working tool supported on the carriage, linkage for movably supporting the 'Z carriage from the frame including a rocker arm extending laterally of the main frame and pivotally secured at substantially its mid-point to the frame, actuators linking opposite ends of the rocker arm to laterally spaced pivots on the carriage for relative movement therebetween, automatic stopping means operatively associated with said rocker arm and said actuators for terminating movement of said actuators upon a predetermined amount of movement between said rocker arm and at least one of said actuators, a cross-shift arm pivotally secured at one end to the rocker arm at a point intermediate one end of the rocker arm and its pivot, a crossshift actuator linking the other end of the crossshift arm vto the carriage for relative lateral movement therebetween, and a remotely operated latch operatively associated with the rocker arm adapted to releasably secure the rocker arm in a plurality of angular positions relative to the frame.

9. An earth working machine or the like comprising a main longitudinal frame, a carriage below the main frame, a universal coupling pivotally securing the carriage to the main frame at one point, a working tool supported on the carriage, linkage for movably supporting the carriage from the frame including a rocker arm extending laterally of the main frame and pivotally secured at substantially its mid-point to the frame, actuators individually linking opposite ends of the rocker arm to laterally spaced pivots on the carriage for relative movement therebetween, means operatively connected between said rocker arm and said actuators for actuation upon predetermined movement of said rocker arm, means for terminating actuation of said actuators when said first-named means are actuated, a cross-shift arm pivotally secured at one end to the rocker arm at a point intermediate one end of the rocker arm and its pivot, a crossshift actuator linking the other end of the crossshift arm to the carriage for relative lateral movement therebetween, and a remotely operated latch operatively associated with the cross-shift arm in a plurality of angular positions relative to the rocker arm.

10. Earth working machinery including a main frame, a sub-frame supported on a universal pivot near its front end to the main frame, an earth working tool carried on the sub-frame, bracket means movably supported about substantially a horizontal pivot on the main frame, adjustable length linkage means pivotally connecting the ends of the bracket means to the sub frame towards the rear thereof, a crank connected in angularly adjustable relation to the bracket means, adjustable length linkage means connected between the crank and the sub-frame for moving the crank to desired angular relation with the bracket means, and means releasably locking the bracket means in any one of a plurality of angular positions.

11. Machinery as in claim 10 wherein an electric circuit is provided, electrical means are carried by portions of said bracket means for closing said electric circuit upon predetermined movement of said first-named adjustable length linkage means with relation to said bracket means and means are connected to said electric circuit for terminating actuation of said firstnamed adjustable length linkage means when said electric circuit is closed.

GEORGE E. ROSS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,074,565 Shaeifer Mar. 23, 1937 2,147,631 Arndt Feb. 21, 1939 2,247,007 Arndt -1 June 24, 1941 2,281,224 Baumgartner Apr. 28, 1942 2,498,044 LeTourneau Feb. 21, 1950 

